GUIDELINES FOR NEW DELEGATES

Researching your country

It is important to complete your research as a team. It is your responsibility to have knowledge of:

• Political Structure: Government, Prime Minister/King/Queen, Cabinet (other Ministers), Parties etc., Constitution, Stability and Policy of Present Government, Role and Influence in the World, Membership of blocs and geopolitical groupings
• Geography, History, Culture including Ethnic Groups, Religions etc.
• Economy: Debts, Membership of Trade Organizations etc.

Possible sources for your research can include web sites, read newspapers, magazines etc., and contacting the embassy/consulate of your country.

Researching your Topic

Each delegate will be given 2 topics in his/her committee that he/she is responsible to research. Possible sources to research your country can include newspapers, the above websites, etc.

Writing Background Papers

It is advisable that you write a background paper on each topic. This should include a sort of summary of the problems involved, e.g. for Environment Commission, the question of "Sustainable Energy": explain what sustainable energy is, why we need it etc. One or two pages are adequate as this background paper is only for your personal use. It will not be required during the conference. This background paper ensures that you have understood the problem and have gained some insight. As well, it serves as the basis for your further work.

Writing a Policy Statement

Once you have researched your country and your topics, it is important view these topics from the point of view of your country. If you cannot get the respective information from your embassy, attempt to think what the general position of your country could be taking into account all the information you have researched; e.g. What would the current US government think about sustainable energy, or what would be the standpoint of a developing country/industrial country/small island country etc.

You are to write a brief, but comprehensive policy statement on each issue. This serves three important purposes:

• it allows you to think about your policy more thoroughly
• it serves as a document on your country's policy. Ideally each delegate of your country should be familiar with all issues, even it they are not his/her own, so that there is a consistency of your country's policy during the conference.
• it acts as an outline for your draft resolution
• time permitting it may be read out during the debate